The Nigerian Government has called for European investments into Nigeria’s cold chain infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to address food insecurity.
Speaking at the 2025 edition of the Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria Exhibition and Conference, in Lagos, Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the need for foreign investors to tap into Nigeria’s cold chain industry.
Represented by the Ministry’s Lagos State coordinator, Omolara Abimbola-Oguntuyi, the minister said: “The Federal Government is committed to ensuring food availability, accessibility, and nutritional quality.”
Kyari added that Nigeria is implementing policies to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access for farmers, and ensure equitable resource distribution.
The stakeholders at the event noted that despite producing approximately 65 million tonnes of food annually, Nigeria loses 40 per cent due to inadequate cold storage infrastructure. This results in economic losses estimated at N3.5tn.
The experts argued that the agricultural sector could become highly profitable with proper investment while significantly improving food security.
The Consul-General of Germany in Nigeria, Weert Borner, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agrofood sector, stating, “Nigeria is one of six Sub-Saharan countries prioritised for intensified agricultural cooperation. Germany, both at the government and private sector levels, is working with Nigeria on political, scientific, and economic agricultural matters.”
The Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, highlighted his country’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria in agrofood and affirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to facilitating significant opportunities to boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Other key speakers included the President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa, Alexander Isong, and the Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Poland, Michal Cygan.
The Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria event, organised by Fairtrade Messe, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.
The Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Paul Marz, noted that the exhibition has become a hub for innovation, collaboration, and growth in Nigeria’s agro-food and manufacturing sectors, attracting exhibitors from Europe, Asia, and Africa.
GIK/APA